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The first thing to start with is saving cash. As i mentioned I believe people should start off with $5 or $10 to the side. If you receive bi weekly payments save $10 to $20 it will help you in the long run. Another thing to keep in mind. Write down on a piece of paper on how much to save in your bank account. Writing how much you want to save will motivate you to handle finances. The trick to saving money is to stay motivated at all times. When spending money at any store the best...
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Things are still going pretty well. We got our tax refund back so I went ahead and sent it to the IRA for 2018. With that and the market gains we are up to $32,489 in our retirement accounts.

I'm about to sign a new web design contract and will get $1,000 this week or next to put towards the animal fund.

I paid another $230 on the credit card. New balance is $9,592.36.


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It was a bit of a spendy day yesterday. I got my $16 haircut and I spent $21 on valentine cards and candy. I also slipped two ten dollar bills into the valentines that went to Florida, and I'll do the same for the boys here.

I need a belt, and I went to Goodwill to see if they had one. There were belts, but none long enough. I guess I'll look on Amazon.

Variables are at 64% with two weeks to go.

On the frugal side, I got a free breakfast at Planet Fitness, and I used...
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It feels like there will be school all summer at this point. Out of the last 13 school days, there has been school for 3 of those days. Needless to say my subbing income has been nearly non-existent. Thank goodness for increased editing and shopping.

On another note, my dad wants a new car. He has agreed to sell me his car for half of what its worth! It is a 2013 Chevy Impala with 36,500 miles. I am going to get it (after he buys the new car) for 3k! I should be able to sell...
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In: 289.17

Out:
oil 5.00
salt 2.00
knit group 1.00

I donated the rest of my mohair to the knit group in exchange for 2 balls of acrylic. Think it was a net loss, and I will definitely use what I got.
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There's 18 inches of snow on the ground, and it is still snowing, but less consistently, which means that if I want a birthday cake I am going to have to bake it myself and I'm sort of the mindset of, well, ehh. Maybe peanut butter cookies as they are easy and I am already making bread. DH has been able to get out to go to work, but not many are able to get in. Some of the stores are closed, so even if I sent him for a cake, the stores might not even be open and I don't want...
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I went to Walmart to check out some deals and I started with one cart and ended with 4!! Found so many great deals on sheets, rugs and candles! I was a little worried about the rugs because I have never sold them before, they are a more expensive item for me and they take up a lot of room...but I just posted them last night and have already sold a ton of them!







Better Homes & Gardens Jar Candles (Bought 2)
Regular Price $5.97 each
Clearance Price + Tax = $1.61
(Marked...
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So, it looks like the busy weeks are every other week. This week, there's nothing on my calendar, so I'm looking forward to plenty of relaxation and rest.

Yesterday, I was involved in a very minor car accident. I'm still not entirely sure what happened, but the best I can tell is that I switched into a right hand lane on a pretty busy 3-lane street and a car turning into the right-hand lane didn't notice me switch and turned into the back of my car. It seems like they realized...
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With 10" of new snow overnight, we're all home again. I think this is a good opportunity to get a lot done--caught up on grading, laundry etc.

I spent nothing yesterday as I brought my coffee, and made a great big pot of soup from Thanksgiving turkey stock. I have another turkey in the freezer, and this might be the perfect weekend to roast it.

No real money news, but would like to get the taxes done this week and get a bit ahead of the game.

Back to it!
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I made it to the dealer right on time, and the appointment took about an hour and a half. I knew it wouldn't be a bargain, but I did not expect that it would be $228.

It was not just an oil change, of course, but a maintenance visit. They inspected and cleaned the brakes, tightened the tie rods, checked the steering box and boots, brake lines, hoses and ABS system, topped off fluid levels, checked exhaust system and fuel lines, and rotated tires.

In addition, they found...
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Grocery - $116.99 spent on the weekend, hmmm… we are spending a bit lately. We will have to cut back in the next couple of weeks.

New Driver’s Licence – I had to renew my licence, it’s for 10 years and it cost $276.70


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I messed up my envelopes, because all my change is in an unbroachable jar, and I was trying to split twenties into several places. I could do an over the counter withdrawal and get the exact amounts, but there is a charge for that. Never mind. I am trying to get a month ahead in my envelopes, so very little spending for the next few weeks.
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I made my oil change appointment for 8 am. What was I thinking? I'm not used to getting up early any more. Add to that, I was so worried about whether I would get up on time, that I did not sleep well at all.

Snow was falling yesterday, so I'm going to have to clean off my car before I go. Hope it's just snow, and not snow with a layer of ice underneath.

Yesterday was a no-spend day. I mostly read and watched Netflix. It was really relaxing. I did do one load of laundry.


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In:
Bonus Bonds 40.00

Stuff has been coming into my house and I'm running out of places to put it. Need to clear out some of the old stuff, so I donated somme clothes, jewellry and yarn to Orphans Aid. I have aspirations to be a minimalist but right now it looks as tho that will have to wait until I'm in my coffin.
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...to paraphrase one of my favorite songs from the 80's. The snow started around 3:00 this afternoon and we already have six inches. It's supposed to snow non-stop for the next few days, too. DH and I were out doing our grocery shop. We went to five stores, but the second to last one had closed early due to the weather. We only missed it by about a half an hour, but fortunately that was Whole Foods, which was just a want, not a need, run for sopprasetta.

Usually I will...
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So for about 3 months DH and I lived in a ghetto. I hate to use that word but I don't know how else to describe it. I found a rental online and had no idea about a new city. It was cheap and month to month, close to my work, took dogs, and we didn't have many choices. We hoped it would be short term and it was. It was pretty much our first and only time living in a city. Previously and since we never have and have made a conscious decision to live in suburbia and further out...
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I have so many balls in the air right now, I feel slightly behind on everything, including blogging!

I only now checked our mortgage payments to see our new balances.

US: $739 to principal
UK1: $178
UK2: $38
UK3: $39
Total principal paid this month: $994

New household debt totals:
US Mortgage $381,699
Loan from friends (duplex) $9,000
UK Mortgage 1 $31,053
UK Mortgage 2 $6,546
UK Mortgage 3 $6,894
----
TOTAL DEBT $435,192
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It snowed this morning. Again. OK, I know it is winter, but I'm tired of it. We had been told by the weather forecasters rain with a chance of dusting snow. Well an inch later of snow, and it was slick because the city crews have not been out.

Oh, well. We came out of church and our vehicles were covered. I brushed snow off of our car and then did a couple others for some of the older members. Two ushers said they would get the cars for anyone who didn't want to walk across...
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Great day today.

1. Activated my HSA account, I need to follow up with my employer the funds from the last pay date was not deposited 🙄
2. Switched automobile insurance companies, same coverage, $60 less a month.
3. Threw out old Halloween 🎃 candy 🍬 molds. I haven’t made any candy in years.
4. Found $16 in my car armrest, and $30 in my desk drawer that I had forgotten about.
5. Completed my application for Homestead exemption on the new place, this should...
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I am reviving my "monthly savings" posts. I abandoned last year because I knew I would just be in hoarding cash mode. Not very exciting. But in the end, I didn't have time for this, so probably for the best. Going forward, I should have time to keep up with these:

Received $67 bank interest for the month of January.

Snowflakes to Investments:
--Redeemed $0 credit card rewards (cash back) from our gas/grocery card.
--Redeemed $83 cash back on Citi card.
--Redeemed...
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